Citation

Wang J, Warnecke JM, Deserno TM. Stud. Health Technol. Inform. 2019; 258: 206-210.

Affiliation

Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics of TU Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School, Braunschweig, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, IOS Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

30942747

Abstract

In-vehicle monitoring of bio-signals in real time is still an unsolved problem. To support continuous respiration monitoring, this work intends to reveal where such sensors can be deployed and how their signals are affected by noise during autonomous driving. A Shimmer3 IMU module was attached to the passenger seatbelt of a test vehicle for respiration monitoring. Four positions at the seatbelt (Shoulder, Chest, Side-Waist and Waist) were tested under four conditions (Engine Off, Engine On, and Drive on Flat and Uneven Road). The data capture protocol ensures the same respiration rate in all conditions. Three testers were measured with two repetitions each yielding a total of 96 records of 60 s lengths. All signals were low-pass filtered. Then, the fast Fourier transform was applied. We evaluated the highest peak in the frequency domain. If the highest peak in the range of 0.1 - 0.4 Hz was identified at the same position, the condition is counted as true. Surprisingly, side-waist position yields 67% on the uneven road while chest and waist (both in the middle of the subject) are unsuitable. In conclusion, monitoring respiration on the seatbelt is possible with accelerometers while driving, if the right sensor position is chosen. In future, smart textiles will be used to integrate unobtrusive and inexpensive biomonitoring in the vehicle.

Language: en

Keywords

Health monitoring; accelerometer; accidental informatics; respiration